The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-10-06
VOL. ".
TENNESSEEANS
Bob and Alf and Five Thou
sand Visitors AT the Reunion.
The Distinguished Taylors Greeted
With Music, Cheers and Hand
shaking.
Springfield Does Honor to the Sons of
the Volunteer State---Speeches and
Proceedings.

he FAMOUS tennessee reunion Is
over, and day eventful in the histo-
ry OF Springfield and of the people
who were present at the picnic is past.
The Taylors arrived on the morning
train from st. Louis, and were at once
driven to the Metropolitan Hotel.
Here hearty breakfast was partaken
of, after which the distinguished
guests received a number Of callers in
their rooms. After an early dinner,
Governor Taylor and his brother were
driven to the fair grounds. Here II
crowd of fully 5000 people who had
come from all sections of the country
were gathered to greet them. They
were in time for the balloon ascension
and looked with pleased countenances
upon the expressed wonder and de-
light Of the children as the great bag
rose majestically in the air.
The following is Gov. Robt. l. Tay-
lor's speech in full
FELLOW CITIZENS OF MISSOURI; To
you who have instituted an annual re-
union Of Tennessee this occasion is
doubtless the happiest OF the year.
By it you are afforded opportunity to
meet in social intercourse and to re-
new and strengthen pledges and assur-
ances of friendship and fraternal love.
In establishing this annual meeting
Of the sons and daughters of Tennessee
you have shown to the world a quail
ty OF heart as beautiful as our religion,
warm and real affection for one anoth-
er and true and steadfast love of your
NATIVE land. In inviting us to join
you in these festivities you have eX-
pressed through us an equal love for
those who still reside in your de9r old
mother state. Permit us, therefore,
as their representatives on this occa-
sion, to pledge you for them and for
ourselves full reciprocity of the
kindly feelings thus exhibited, and to
express our appreciation OF the high
lhonors conferred in your generous in
vitation We love you; we know that
you love us, because you still love and
revere our common mother, the grand
old volunteer state 1t is natural fol
men to love the land of their nativity
1t is principle fixed and unchage
able in the human breast, ever active
as the principle of life itself This il
especially true of every child Of Ten
nessee, though we say it in no boast
ful spirit. Interest may entice him tC
wander and to dwell beyond he
limits, but nothing can estrange hi,
affections or steal his heart from thu
land where he first saw the light.
His feet may tread the polar snow,
Or stray where sweet magnoias blow,
Yet ever turn his thoughts to thee,
His native land, dear Tennessee!
His eye of fancy holds in view
His ehlldhoods home whose flowers grew
Meath skies as bright as bend DER earth
Whoes memories crowd the dear old hearth
Sweet as the rose buds at their birth.
Whose voices come through by-gone years
From loved ones long since lost, and tears
Unbiddcn start.
Where e'er his wandering footsteps lead
His tongue for thee shall ever plead:
His heart with fond desire shall burn
Back to thy bosom to return.
My friends, no one may chide yo
for loving your native state. She
worthy OF your love and your pride
She lies on the happiest lines OF lat
tude that encircle the globe In til
midst of that grand belt OF the earth
surface bounded by the 30th and 40t
parallels north, that golden zone {
Gods especial lavors, she sits as
queen daughter Gf liberty crowne
with the royal muniRcence of Nature
richest gifts and adorned with ht
rarest beauties. 1t seems rs if Co
in the prodigaity of his goodness, h,
with partial hand showered upo
her domain all that is most excellel
and most beautiful in every land m
in every cline. sometimes fant
tthat when our loving Creator sad
sand regretfully closed the gates Of Pa
Gdise against fallen man, 10th to 4
stroy, he scattered its glories over Il
blessed land we call our Tennessee
With its sunshine and shadows al
dreamy mists OF blended purple al
bl0e and gold, he painted our mou
tains and hills and valleys, and ski
$ in melower and lovelier tints. wi
the added blush of itssunrise he ma
our mornings to blush more,glorious
With the glow of its sunsets and t
rose colors of its twilights he gave
our own sunset skies splendorS J
more gorgeous. Its trees, its fru
and all its wealth of flowers he ira
planted to our soil, its horn OF pler
poured on our fields. Its waters ga
like liquid crystal from our fouhtai
and sparkle and leap merrily in {
romping rivers. | would fain indu
in the pleasant conceit that there
the beautiful land of your nativ
God might have intended out OF
wreck of paradise lost 10 build ps